The Undisputed Team Leader

A smile here and a nod there, Kemba Walker has become the reassuring face for UConn -- a pillar of confidence in the eye of a hurricane.

NCAA allegations have swirled and sanctions are forthcoming. Six freshmen have been fitted for jerseys. And the Huskies are coming off one of the more frustrating years in the Jim Calhoun era.

Heading into the 2010-11 season, Walker is the closest to a sure thing the Huskies have. He is relishing center stage, embracing his stardom and the responsibilities he'll shoulder in what many expect to be his final collegiate season.

A couple of weeks ago in New York, Walker sat before a large group of reporters at Big East media day and said, "It's fun being the guy. It's fun being the leader. I can't wait to take on the role even more."

After pouring in an easy 25 points in an exhibition victory over American International, he sat before another large group and said, "It's a good feeling to know guys look up to me. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

Once a reticent freshman, though a significant contributor, on the Final Four team of 2009, Walker is the poised centerpiece for a program otherwise surrounded by uncertainty. Soon after being named a captain for his junior season, Walker called each of the incoming UConn freshmen and stressed the importance of being on campus as early as possible.

Walker was a member of the USA Select team, a group of college stars handpicked to compete against and train with the USA National Team that ultimately won gold at the World Championship. He's a preseason first-team All-Big East selection, the unquestioned leader and playmaker for the Huskies, and he's nearing the end of what Jim Calhoun calls one of the more remarkable journeys in UConn history.

"He's an extraordinary kid," Calhoun said. "Obviously, Emeka [Okafor] is extraordinary. Ray Allen is special, special, special in every aspect of the word. I don't know if I've enjoyed watching the growth as a student, person and player as much as I've enjoyed watching and being around Kemba Walker."

Walker, a 6-foot-1 guard from Rice High in New York, came to UConn in need of some refinement, on the court and off. He was jet-quick but inconsistent. He wasn't a bad student; he just didn't necessarily embrace academics like he does now.

After an overtime victory over Gonzaga in Seattle in 2008, Walker talked about how nervous he was playing before a packed Key Arena crowd. He had never experienced anything like it. Sure, he had dazzled gatherings on the New York courts and taken on the nickname, "E-Z Pass," but he clearly had entered a whole new world, and he was a little taken aback.

Slowly, surely, he gained comfort and confidence. By the end of his freshman season, with his role increased because of Jerome Dyson's season-ending injury, he was leading UConn into the Final Four with a season-high 23 points against Missouri in the West Regional final.

Last season, he emerged as one of the elite playmakers in the Big East, averaging 14.6 points and 5.1 assists. Still, he was part of an inconsistent perimeter trio with Dyson and Stanley Robinson, and the Huskies fizzled to an 18-16 record.

Walker, known as "K-Walk" around UConn, is clearly disgusted by last season's showing. But he's refreshed and refocused, vowing to ignore low expectations, embrace the under-the-radar nature of this team and pull the Huskies through. The nervous kid has become the calming voice of reason, and it should be noted that he has excelled in the classroom to the point where he could graduate in May, a year early.

"I've seen Kemba basically grow up at UConn," senior Donnell Beverly said. "It's good to see him telling guys what to do and stuff like that, because that's what he needs to do in order for us to win."

"He's been like a brother," freshman Shabazz Napier said. "He's taken me under his wing."

Walker had a few guys take him under their wings this offseason -- guys like Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo. All were national team members who went head-to-head with Walker on the court over the summer in Las Vegas and New York and were side-by-side with him off the court. Walker learned leadership skills, nuances of point guard play. He received valuable lessons in the importance of knowing when to turn his signature speed on and off. That, he said, was most important.

"He goes coast to coast," Calhoun said. " Kevin Ollie was a coast-to-coast guy, too. He's developed, at this point, at least into a good three-point shooter. If it's just straight speed, they'll catch up to you. You've got to have change of pace, change of direction, pull up at the free-throw line. That's the biggest adjustment we've had to make. Heart, all those other things [he has]. We asked him to do a lot last year. We're going to ask him to do a ton this year."

Walker wants to do it all. Beverly joked recently that Walker considers himself a scoring machine. Perhaps. But Walker isn't thinking he can do everything alone. He's not being selfish. He wants to use his confidence to take this young team by the collar and say, "Follow me."

Like he did at the Husky Run in mid-October. Before the traditional 5K race around campus, Walker stood before a crowd and said, "Let's get it started. Let's have fun."

It was a simple, though important, gesture from a leader to his followers. He isn't shying away from anything, saying he'll be the leading scorer if he has to but will also defer to a new set of teammates he trusts. Regarding the NCAA issues, while they have nothing to do with players, Walker said, "It's not unfair [to have to deal with it] because we're part of the program."

Clearly, Walker is ready for any pressure and questions that will come his way this season.

"Kemba provides his own pressure," associate head coach George Blaney said. "He's gotten to that point in his game where he knows how good he is. In college, when you get an open shot, you think and hope you're going to make that shot. In the pros, you know you're going to make that shot. And I think he's gotten to that stage where when he gets an open shot, he know he's going to make it. When you get to that point, pressure becomes kind of welcome, and I think he'll handle it well."